Preschool Electronics

Why your child will enjoy this toy now:

Real electronics of their very own are sure to make preschoolers feel very grown up, at an age when they understand the benefits of sharing ideas and become more aware of the art of communicating. Taking photographs encourages children to express what they see in a different way. With a simple-to-use digital camera that makes picture-taking more successful, preschoolers can shoot images that have personal meaning, then view them and even print their own pictures. Similarly, a music player nurtures expression through language as a child sings along to music or listens to stories on tape.

What you can do to help your child learn more:

• Talk about the different ways we record events in their lives. Explain why people keep diaries, journals and scrapbooks. Encourage your child to do the same with drawing. He could draw a picture of something he ate that day, for example, someone he played with or a favorite adventure.
• Have your child take pictures of his favorite things. These could include his favorite food, stuffed animal, toy, or anything else he cherishes. He can share it with a teacher, send it to a distant relative or give it to a new friend who wants to know more about him!
• If your child enjoys listening to music, he'll have a ball listening to himself making music! Record him singing a song and play it back. If you're brave enough, have him record you, too!
• Taking pictures is a great opportunity for your child to refine her observation skills. As you look for subjects, talk about how faraway objects look bigger as you approach them.
• "Zoom" in on objects with something other than a camera. Use a magnifying glass to study insects. Visit a science museum to look into a telescope or microscope. Your child can have lots of fun just studying her features in a magnifying mirror.
• At home and in the car, expose your child to a wide array of music styles. As you listen to a particular song or composition, ask her if she can identify any of the instruments: "Can you hear the drums?" Talk about the mood the music creates: "Does this music sound sad or happy?"

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Dollhouses and accessories

Why your child will enjoy this toy now:

Toys that engage the imagination and are easy to rearrange are bound to be a hit with 4 and 5-year-olds. With refined fine motor skills, children this age are also intrigued by the special qualities of a "world in miniature"—particularly if it has a theme that's meaningful in their bigger world.

What you can do to help your child learn more:

• Help your child set up an inviting play environment. If she has several dollhouse sets—or other mini-dollhouse toys—make sure she has enough room to spread out as she plays.
• Perhaps the two of you could make a play mat together. Using a long roll of paper or poster board, and paints or crayons, paint streets and yards. Ask your child to think of names for the streets, the village square, the town beach, etc. She may want to model it after her own neighborhood, a favorite vacation spot or another familiar place.
• If your child is playing by herself, encourage her to tell you a story about what she's acting out with her dolls and accessories. This will help her put her imaginative thoughts into words and give her confidence vocalizing ideas.

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Cars, vehicles and RC toys

Why your child will enjoy this toy now:

Kids love to make things go at this age. Racecars offer them the thrill of competition while teaching them valuable lessons about cause and effect as well as sportsmanship. With this kind of play, everyone wins!

What you can do to help your child learn more:

• Create a challenging roadway for your child's vehicles using everyday objects. Let him race his cars through paper towel "tunnels," roll them to the top of pillow "mountains" and maneuver them over a broom's bristles.
• Watch a short car race on TV. Instead of relying on the speedway announcer, turn the sound off and take turns calling the action!
• Make a lesson in vehicle safety a fun outing. Take a walk on a city sidewalk and point out the road signs and signals. Explain what they mean, and why it's important for motorists to obey them.

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Role play

Why your child will enjoy this toy now:

Dinosaurs, action hero figures and playsets encourage children to combine their imaginative and problem-solving skills in "What-if?" play. As they invent make-believe stories of increasing complexity, they'll enjoy creating problems for the characters and acting out solutions.

What you can do to help your child learn more:

• If your child has action figures or playsets based on everyday role models, such as firefighters, policemen, teachers or doctors, talk with him about the important jobs they hold in our communities, and what it takes to be in that role. Using his figures as an example, discuss values like duty, courage, honor and service.
• Use these characters and your child's play situations to introduce things like fire safety lessons ("Stop, drop and roll") and the importance of having a fire escape plan for your home.
• Many of the same important lessons can be taught using imagination-based figures or figures from another era, like medieval knights or dinosaurs. Playsets based on dolls and family settings also offer lessons in values and caring for one another.
• When you ask your child to tell you about what he's pretending, you're encouraging his thinking processes and the development of his language and communications skills. "Tell me a story about what happened at the airport today?"
• As your child plays, take pictures of the different scenes he has set up. Ask your child to tell a story about the pictures and what was happening in the various scenes.
• Similarly, if your child has a camera, or you're comfortable with him using yours, let him create his own story by taking pictures of his toys in different play situations. Spread the pictures out in front of your child and ask him to put them into a story sequence: "What happened first?" "Then what happened?" Continue until your child has sorted through the photos and come up with the framework of a story that has a beginning, middle and end.

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Creative activity toys

Why your child will enjoy this toy now:

Toys that involve creativity have increased value now that your child is able to spend more time engrossed in an activity and enjoys paying attention to detail.

What you can do to help your child learn more:

• Unless the toy is complicated, sometimes it's a good idea to stand back and give your child time to figure it out. Observe and offer assistance only if he needs more instructions. Many children just go at it in such an exploratory way—and find the toy's functionality so intuitive—that they just seem to "get it," no help required.
• If your child's toy requires a bit more explaining, read the instructions and explore its features so if your child misses one (like the volume control), you can point it out. Playing with your child's toy will also help you assess what features your child should be able to enjoy right away, and which ones will evolve as his understanding of the toy's capabilities develops.
• If the toy is portable, bring it with you any time your child may have a wait ahead of him or on long car rides to help pass the time.

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Sports toys

Why your child will enjoy this toy now:

An increasing sense of confidence may mean your child is ready to take physical activities to another level. Sports toys that build on current abilities while offering new challenges boost confidence and a feeling of success.

What you can do to help your child learn more:

• Select an open space free of other toys so your child can play without worry.
• Using baseball as an example, help your child decide how far away to stand from you, the pitcher. Show him how to hold the bat; if it's too long for him at first, show him how he can "choke up" on the handle to gain more control over his swing.
• Cue your child before you pitch, "Keep your eye on the ball." Go slowly at first. Even if you're not the best pitcher, you'll still be passing along some good tips.
• Regardless of the sport, be a good coach. Realize it's just as important to praise your child's efforts as his successes. If you try to be descriptive in your praise, your words will have more lasting value to your child—for example, "You really concentrated on keeping your swing level that time" vs. "That was a great hit!"
• Don't be afraid to take turns—it will help your child to experience what it's like to pitch, and to see you bat from a pitcher's perspective.
• When you both feel confident you're ready, you can pick up the pace of the game. Maybe you'll even want to count how many hits your child has, how many goals he's scored or how many baskets he's made. Then see if you can break your own records.

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Battery-powered ride-ons

Why your child will enjoy this toy now:

With better mastery of basic skills, your child is ready to bring personal style to physical activities. They're ready to move on to increasingly challenging moves, combining active play with imaginative role play.

What you can do to help your child learn more:

• Make sure the area your child is riding in is not only safe, but also big enough for him to make some turns. Always directly supervise your child, and remind him of the do's and don'ts of safe riding (do watch where you're going; don't go near the street; don't go out of the driveway).
• Offer props to help make this ride-on part of your child's bigger, imaginative play schemes. For example, if he's pretending to be a rescue worker riding to the scene of an emergency, remind him of his firefighter's hat, pretend badge, or special jacket that may add to the look.
• Many times, your child will be happy to go from here to there on his battery-powered ride-on. Try to offer a few special opportunities for him to ride it—for example, if you're paying the neighbor's a visit, or going for a walk around your neighborhood.
• If your child is sharing the vehicle with a sibling or friend, a timer can be a helpful, impartial "announcer" when it's someone else's turn to drive.
• Find a safe place for your child to "park" his vehicle in your garage or shed, and give your child the responsibility of returning it there when he's done driving.

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Electronic Drawing toys

Why your child will enjoy this toy now:

Kids this age are more sophisticated in their creative endeavors than when they first took crayon to paper. They can sustain their attention for longer, allowing them to see a basic craft project through to completion. What's more, they're more detail-oriented with their artwork. That's why toys that allow them to express themselves in different ways—with different activities and accessories—are ideal for charging their creativity.

What you can do to help your child learn more:

• Make sure your child understands how to use the toy and its accessories. Read the directions, and test it out together until your child is comfortable using it on his own.
• Offer your child a "scene starter" for her artwork: "Can you draw a picture of Grandma?" "If you were to invent a robot, what would it look like?"
• Use your child's interest in art as an opportunity to talk about different colors. Find examples of complimentary and clashing colors. Use paints to show how two different colors mixed together produce a new color. For a less messy option, give your child a piece of white paper along with a piece of yellow cellophane and green cellophane. Let him make green on his own.
• Create an arts and crafts caddy for your house. Fill a bin or bucket with craft basics, such as Popsicle® sticks, yarn, glue, glitter, foam shapes, stickers, empty paper towel rolls and other items. On a rainy day, you'll be prepared for plenty of indoor fun!
• Tour an art gallery or museum in your area with your child. Let her critique the work, telling you what she likes best about it. Call ahead to find out if the museum offers any kid-friendly activities.

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